Some dangerous and unproductive behaviors…

Do partners engage in “mind reading” (telling the other what is it they are really thinking, regardless of what they say)? Are they able to take ownership of their own feelings and behaviors or blame each other for them? Can they slow things down and observe themselves as they fight or do things escalate aimlessly, jumping from one topic to the next? Can they separate their disagreement from themselves or “what you did” becomes “who you are” quickly? After they have fought, can they come back and repair the relationship or just sweep it under the rug together with a thousand previous fights?

Some of these behaviors are not only unproductive, but they are ultimately dangerous and damaging for the long-term relationship. Ownership and positive engagement is always more productive than avoidance and blaming.

Fighting is Ok!

The couples I work with often get surprised when I explain to them that there is nothing wrong with fighting. All couples fight, it is an inevitable part of being in a relationship. In fact, I often get suspicious when a new couple reports that they “never fight”! The problem is not that they fight, but—again—how they fight. A couple that knows how to fight is often able to navigate most of everyday relationship challenges, while a couple that does not how to fight (or does not fight fair) will turn every disagreement into an epic battle, from which both most likely will retrieve and isolate to heal their emotional wounds alone, eroding the bond that keeps them together.

Can we fix our relationship?

Of course, the answer is no. I cannot fix them and often it does not need to be “fixed”, however they will need to make significant changes in the way they communicate and how they fight. With that, I can help.

Can couples rebuild their relationship?

I’d love to answer yes to every case; however, things are not that simple. It will depend, among many things, on each partner’s inner resources, the amount of pain each carries, the problem(s) that brought them in, their commitment to the relationship, and their willingness to work with me and look inside for the roots of –their part– of the problems within themselves. I can help them navigate the crisis, I’ll give them resources, but ultimately the success of couples therapy and their relationship depends on them, but observing how they fight and learning how to do it better, is a great starting point.